Obituary of Nancy Eleanor (Karch) Blease

Nancy Eleanor (Karch) Blease, age 86, our dearest mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and beautiful spirit, passed away on December 19, 2020 following a brief illness and Covid-19 related complications. Nancy was born to William Edward and Inez Karch on September 23, 1934 in Bakersfield, California. She enjoyed sharing her memories of growing up in Bakersfield along with her brother Bill, and their family trips throughout southern California. Upon graduation from high school, she lived for a time with her Aunt and Uncle in Virginia where she attended college. Nancy met and married Thomas A. Blease, Sr. in July of 1955. The couple raised four children together; three sons, Thomas A. Jr. (Vicki), Eric O. (Laura), Alexander O. (Tina), and a daughter Karen M. (Scott). While her husband had a long career in the mainframe computer industry, Nancy was a dedicated homemaker tending to their family home in Los Gatos, California, where they resided for over thirty years. In 1988, following her husband's retirement, the couple built a new home near Bonny Doon, California, overlooking the Monterey Bay where they had lived since. Over the many years, the Blease household was also home to both feline and canine pet companions, for whom Nancy was a devoted caregiver. Nancy was preceded in death by her husband (2017) and her daughter (2005). Nancy was passionate in her love of the outdoors, gardening, and travel both foreign and domestic. With her eye for form and color, she nurtured a lifelong interest in art, expressed through many pencil drawings, watercolor paintings, as well as old family photo-enhancement projects. To her end, Nancy remained a vibrant and independent woman, who cherished her privacy, yet was always happiest when in the company of her family of several generations, including ten grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Nancy will always be lovingly remembered as the generous and selfless person she was.